Gold has long been considered non-magnetic, but new research shows that it can be magnetized under certain conditions.
This is a result of the electrons in gold atoms being unpaired, which means they do not form a pair. This effect is slightly weaker in gold clusters, but it is still present.
How to Make a Magnet
A magnet is a metal object that attracts iron and other materials. This is due to the way that the electrons within the magnet’s molecules move and spin in different directions.
Gold is a non-ferrous metal, and as such it cannot be directly attracted by a magnet. Nonetheless, non-ferrous metals can be separated from one another using equipment that uses eddy currents to induce a magnetic field in the material while a second magnet shifts it to another location.
You can also use a magnet to test jewelry to see whether it is real gold or not. This can help you determine if the piece contains a higher percentage of gold than other metals or is made of alloys.
If you are unsure about the purity of your gold, you can also try rubbing it on a ceramic to see if it leaves a streak. This is a quick and easy way to know if your jewelry is real or fake.
Make a Magnet with Wire
Gold does not magnetize or stick to a magnet on its own, but it can be magnetized by combining it with other metals. These other metals include iron, nickel, cobalt, and rare-earth metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium.
The magnetic properties of these other metals are controlled by a number of factors, including how tightly the wire is wound around the core, and the material used to create the core. These factors also have to do with the magnet’s permeability.
The coiled wire produces an electric current, which produces a magnetic field. The more turns of wire, the stronger the magnetic field will be.
Make a Magnet with Paper
Pure gold on its own cannot magnetize or stick to a magnet. However, gold mixed with other metals like iron may be magnetic. This is called an alloy of gold.
This type of gold is usually used in jewelry. It can be yellow, red, pink or white.
The percentage of gold in the mixture determines how magnetic it is. It can be very strong if the gold contains more than 20% of its atoms replaced by iron.
In this experiment, you will learn that unpaired electrons can organize into a magnetic dipole like a bar magnet. When this order is disrupted by dropping the paperclip or by introducing another magnetic field, it will lose its magnetism.
Make a Magnet with Toothpaste
When you have a piece of gold that you need to check for authenticity, you can use toothpaste to test it. This simple test works because toothpaste contains a small number of abrasive particles that remove a thin layer of the metal.
While this test will not work on pure gold, it does work on impure gold. When you rub the toothpaste on an impure piece of gold, a black streak will begin to form.
It’s a fun, easy and affordable way to determine if an item of jewelry is real or fake. However, this technique should not be used as the sole determining factor.
The gold you’re testing may be made of an alloy that is mixed with other metals. This will cause it to slightly repel a magnet, rather than attract it like pure gold would.
